Rowan Clapp

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Rowan Clapp is ranked as a ‘rising star’ by the Legal 500 (2024, 2025) and is a member of the Attorney General’s Panel of Counsel (C panel). A versatile junior with strong grounding in both public and private law, prior to coming to the bar he worked at both a leading commercial law firm and in the abuses in counterterrorism team at Reprieve.

He has featured in leading cases across chambers’ areas of specialism, recent examples of which include:

R(Rights:Community:Action) v SSHCLG [2025] EWCA Civ 990 – Environment, public law, local government – Acted unled in the Court of Appeal on behalf of a group of local authorities challenging a Written Ministerial Statement of December 2023 which purported to restrict energy efficiency standards in local plans.

Stop Portland Waste Incinerator v SSHCLG [2025] EWCA Civ 1405 – Planning, environment, public – Appeared for the Secretary of State in successfully resisting a reasons challenge to the decision to approve major waste infrastructure on the Isle of Portland, Dorset (led by Ryan Kohli).

Turner v SSHCLG [2025] EWHC 2815 (Admin) – Planning – challenge to the service requirements for Enforcement Notices on occupiers of land. Also appeared in the linked case of Paton v SSHCLG [2025] EWHC 245 concerning the correct construction of s.174(2)(b) TCPA 1990 (unled).

Doorstep Dispensaree ltd v Information Commissioner [2024] EWCA Civ 1515 – Information, public law – Challenge to the first ever monetary penalty notice issued by the Information Commissioner’s Office. Issue of burden of proof in fixed penalty appeals (led by Philip Coppel KC)

Friends of the Earth Ltd v SSLUHC [2024] EWHC 2349 (Admin) – Environment, public law– The Cumbria Coal Mine case: challenge to the controversial approval of the world’s first purported ‘Net Zero’ coal mine. First application of the key decision in R(Finch) v Surrey County Council [2022] UKSC 20 (Led by Estelle Dehon KC).

Brem v Clark [2023] EWHC 1358 (KB) – Civil procedure/commercial – Successfully resisted an appeal following the strike out of a claim in misrepresentation following the sale of a residential property (unled).

Li v Hong Kong Society of Notaries[2022] HKCA 1482 – Public, international – advised the Appellant in the Hong Kong Court of Appeal concerning powers of the society to impose penalties on a member.

Expertise

Planning & environment
Rowan Clapp acts for developers, interest groups, government organisations and local authorities across the full spectrum of planning and environmental matters. He was selected by Planning Resource as being within the 10 top-rated planning junior barristers under 35 (2025) and has twice been ranked as a “rising star” in planning by Legal 500. He is a committee member of the Planning and Environmental Bar Association (PEBA) and a member of Cornerstone Climate.

Recent appeal work includes:
- Residential: Successfully promoting a scheme for 3 dwellings in Buckinghamshire (in circumstances where the preceding four appeals concerning similar development had been unsuccessful) (App Ref: APP/K0425/W/24/3345099). Successfully appearing for Lewes District Council resisting a double application by Gleeson Land for 75 or 200 dwellings in Ringmer (App Refs: APP/P1425/W/23/3314192 & APP/P1425/W/23/3315235). Currently appearing in a 5-week inquiry on behalf of Hertsmere District Council resisting an application by Bloor Homes for a new neighbourhood comprising 900 dwellings in Potters Bar (App ref: 6004002) (led by Robin Green KC). Appeared for Lewes District Council resisting an application for 555 student dwellings in Falmer (App ref: APP/P1425/W/23/3315253). Appeared for Swale Borough Council resisting an application for 250 dwellings in an area at risk of flooding by Gladman Developments (APP/V2255/W/24/3350524).
- Care homes: Successfully promoted a specialist Acquired Brain Injury Unit in Upminster (App Ref: APP/B5480/W/25/3371323). Successfully resisted an application for a care village of 89 dwellings on behalf of Maidstone Borough Council (App ref: APP/U2235/W/23/3331817).
- Solar farms: Appearing (led by Tom Cosgrove KC) on behalf of Babergh District Council resisting an application for a large scale solar farm proposed entirely within a Conservation Area (thought to be the first application of this kind) (App Ref: APP/D3505/W/24/3370515). Appearing on behalf of South Oxfordshire District Council resisting an application for a large scale solar farm within the Green Belt (App ref: APP/Q3115/W/24/3350890).
- Infrastructure: Appearing (led by Estelle Dehon KC) on behalf of South Lakeland Action on Climate Change in the 4-week inquiry into the proposed ‘net zero’ coal mine at Whitehaven, Cumbria.
Rowan has significant experience acting both led and unled in planning and environmental matters in the higher courts:
- R(Rights:Community:Action v SSHCLG [2025] EWCA Civ 990 – Acted unled in the Court of Appeal on behalf of a group of local authorities challenging a Written Ministerial Statement of December 2023 which purported to restrict energy efficiency standards in local plans.
- Stop Portland Waste Incinerator v SSHCLG [2025] EWCA Civ 1405 – Appeared for the Secretary of State in successfully resisting a reasons challenge to the decision to approve major waste infrastructure on the Isle of Portland, Dorset (led by Ryan Kohli).
- Turner v SSHCLG [2025] EWHC 2815 (Admin) – Appeared for the Secretary of State in successfully resisting a challenge relating to the service requirements for Enforcement Notices on occupiers of land. Successfully resisted an application for permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal (unled).
- Paton v SSHCLG [2025] EWHC 245 – Appeared for the Secretary of State in this matter concerning the proper construction of s.174(2)(b) TCPA 1990 in the context of enforcement notice appeals (unled).
- Friends of the Earth Ltd v SSLUHC [2024] EWHC 2349 (Admin) – The Cumbria Coal Mine case: challenge to the controversial approval of the world’s first purported ‘Net Zero’ coal mine. First application of the key decision in R(Finch) v Surrey County Council [2022] UKSC 20 (Led by Estelle Dehon KC).
- R(oao) Save Smallbrook v Birmingham City Council [2024] EWHC 2535 (Admin) –– challenge to proposal to demolish (rather than to reuse) a major heritage asset in the centre of Birmingham
- R(Blacker) v Chelmsford City Council [2023] EWCA Civ 25 – Key case concerning the principle of consistency in decision making, and the circumstances in which a formal decision is taken in public law terms (led by Wayne Beglan).
- R(on the application of Liquid Leisure Ltd) v Windsor and Maidenhead RBC [2022] EWHC 1493 (Admin) – Issue as to the scope of local authority ability to serve an unenforceable breach of condition notice which included requirements which overlapped with requirements of an enforcement notice which had been appealed (unled).
- R(on the application of Wingfield) v Canterbury City Council) [2020] EWCA Civ 1588 – application of the seldom exercised power under r.52.30 to reopen a final determination in the context of the environmental impact of major development at two related sites.
Public law & judicial review
Rowan has a broad practice in public law and judicial review across the full range of chambers’ practice areas (see individual tabs on this profile). He is a member of the Attorney General’s Panel of Counsel (C Panel), and so often represents and advises the Secretary of State in public law matters.

Examples of recent work include:
- R(Rights:Community:Action v SSHCLG [2025] EWCA Civ 990 – Acted unled in the Court of Appeal on behalf of a group of local authorities challenging a Written Ministerial Statement of December 2023 which purported to restrict energy efficiency standards in local plans.
- Stop Portland Waste Incinerator v SSHCLG [2025] EWCA Civ 1405 – Appeared for the Secretary of State in successfully resisting a reasons challenge to the decision to approve major waste infrastructure on the Isle of Portland, Dorset (led by Ryan Kohli).
- Friends of the Earth Ltd v SSLUHC [2024] EWHC 2349 (Admin) – The Cumbria Coal Mine case: challenge to the controversial approval of the world’s first ‘Net Zero’ coal mine. Application of the new decision in R(Finch) v Surrey County Council [2022] UKSC 20 (Led by Estelle Dehon KC).
- Doorstep Dispensaree ltd v Information Commissioner [2024] EWCA Civ 1515 –Challenge to the first ever monetary penalty notice issued by the Information Commissioner’s Office. Issue of burden of proof in fixed penalty appeals (led by Philip Coppel KC)
- R(Blacker) v Chelmsford City Council [2023] EWCA Civ 25 – Key case concerning the principle of consistency in decision making, and the circumstances in which a formal decision is taken in public law terms (led by Wayne Beglan).
- Li v Hong Kong Society of Notaries[2022] HKCA 1482 – advised the Appellant in the Hong Kong Court of Appeal concerning powers of the society to impose penalties on a member.
- As above, Rowan often represents the Secretary of State as a respondent to public law challenges. Many of these matters are unreported as permission is often refused to proceed with the claims. Reported claims include Turner v SSHCLG [2025] EWHC 2815 (Admin) and Paton v SSHCLG [2025] EWHC 245.
Information law and technology
- Overview
- News
Rowan is a contributing author to Data Protection – a practical guide to UK Law (7^th ed. Oxford University Press, 2026) and to the forthcoming Information Rights: A Practitioner’s Guide to Data Protection. He delivers training on data protection and related matters via PDP and will be speaking at the 25^th Annual Data Protection Compliance Conference in September 2026.

Rowan appeared, led by Philip Coppel KC in Doorstep Dispensaree ltd v Information Commissioner [2024] EWCA Civ 1515, a challenge to the first ever monetary penalty notice issued by the Information Commissioner’s Office, a case which raised issues concerning the of burden of proof and the standard of evidence required in fixed penalty appeals. He has otherwise been instructed by the Information Commissioner in respect of matters before the First-tier Tribunal and provided advice on requests for information across a variety of contexts, including under the Environmental Information Regulations.
- Facing the future: Live facial recognition technology, law enforcement and privacy20 Nov 2019
Commercial & Regulatory
- Overview
- News
Rowan is currently instructed in a multi-stage arbitration concerning contested responsibility for a major piece of infrastructure in the United Kingdon.

Prior to joining chambers, Rowan worked at a specialist commercial litigation firm working on a variety of commercial matters involving: breach of contract, civil fraud, privilege, insurance and banking disputes. In particular, he assisted the claimant group in the RBS Rights issue litigation (see e.g. RBS (Rights Issue Litigation) [2016] EWHC 3161 (Ch) and [2017] EWHC 463 (Ch)).

More recent experience includes a dispute in relation to the complex ownership structure of a commercial property, an action arising from poorly performed works under a construction contract, and a multi-million pound dispute arising from the terms of a partnership agreement governing the management of a property business.
- Cornerstone Climate Month 2025: Free training webinars exploring climate litigation, net‑zero, ecocide, and much more21 Aug 2025
- Cornerstone Barristers at MIPIM 202412 Feb 2024
Housing and property law
Rowan is experienced in the full range of property and housing related disputes and regularly contributes headnotes to the Property, Planning and Compensation Law Report. He has particular experience in residential and commercial landlord and tenant matters and early in his career appeared for the successful local authority in McMahon v Watford BC [2020] EWCA Civ 497 (led by Catherine Rowlands), a key case on the correct approach to the PSED and vulnerability in homelessness reviews. More recent work saw him appear (unled) for the successful respondent in Brem v Clark [2023] EWHC 1358 (KB), a case in which the appellant/claimant issued a claim in misrepresentation arising from the sale of a residential property. Rowan often advises on property issues as they overlap with his other areas of practice (a recent example being restrictive covenants affecting an option agreement for the development of a large parcel of land allocated within a local plan).
- Vulnerability and the PSED: No arid debates. No straitjackets. No disciplinary stick08 Apr 2020
Licensing
- Overview
Rowan welcomes instructions in all areas of licensing law. Most recently he appeared for the successful Local Authority in an appeal against a decision to suspend a combined Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver’s License.

During pupillage Rowan assisted Asitha Ranatunga who was instructed by Haringey Council in relation to the premises licence for Wireless Festival.

A great advocate who provides tailored advice to clients
Legal 500 (2026)

Rowan is extremely bright and grasps facts very quickly. His advice is concise and well-considered. Rowan is also very polite and respectful as an advocate and excellent at cross-examination.
Legal 500 (2025)